Loader

ABSTRACT

A horn system for an automated loader has horns with upstanding and bottom walls. The horns move from a first, adjacent position in which the bottom walk of the horns completely or almost completely overlap to a second, remote position in which the bottom walls of the horns just barely overlap or do not overlap.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/617,824, filed Apr. 30, 2012, and from U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/624,720, filed Apr. 16, 2012, thedisclosures of each of which are incorporated herein in theirentireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a device for opening bags forloading material on an automated loader. Many types of automated loadersare used to encase material in a bag. For example, the automated poultryloader described in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2008/0022636A1, Two-in-One Bagger, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference, can be used to encase a whole dressed bird such as a chicken,turkey, or duck.

The bags used in these automated loaders are of a type as illustrated inFIG. 1, where a bag 20 has a bottom sheet 22 and a top sheet 24, joinedat bottom and side edges by heat, ultrasonic welding, or other means,thereby defining an opening 25 of the bag 20. The opening 25 of the bag20 is defined at a top edge or lip 27 of the top sheet 24, but thebottom sheet 22 has a portion 26 which extends beyond the lip 27 of thetop Sheet 24. A perforation line 28 defines the border between theextended portion. 26 of the bottom sheet 22 and the remainder of thebottom sheet 22. One or more apertures 30 are punched through theextended portion 26 of the bottom sheet 22. The bag 20 is typically aplastic bag that is made of polyethylene film. The bag 20 may have threeto ten percent ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) as a stretch agent.

In typical prior art automated loading operations, as illustrated inFIG. 2, multiple bags 20 (depicted as 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, etc.) areprovided one on top of another to form a stack 32. The bags 20 a, 20 b,20 c, etc. are held together in the stack 32 by a wicket 34 whichextends through the apertures 30 of the bags 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, etc. Inuse, material, such as a dressed chicken, is loaded into top bag 20 aand the extended portion 26 separates from the remainder of the bottomsheet 22 along the perforation line 28, thereby leaving the dressedchicken encased in the bag 20 a between the bottom and top sheets 22,24. The extended portion 26 remains with the stack 32 due to the wicket34 extending through the apertures 30 of the extended portion 26. Theextended portions 26 of the bags 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, etc. are typicallydisposed of when the stack 32 is depleted.

A conventional automatic poultry loader 40 as known in the prior art isshown in FIGS. 3 through 7. Loader 40 includes a frame 42, a pair ofhorns 44 a, 44 b, a horn control. mechanism 46, an air nozzle 48, a ram50, and a bag carnage assembly 52. The frame 42 has forward and rearwardends 54, 56.

Each horn 44 a, 44 b is typically formed of steel. The horns 44 a, 44 bare minor images of one another, Thus, horn 44 a has top and bottom ends58 a, 60 a, forward and rearward ends 62 a, 64 a, and inner and outersurfaces 66 a, 68 a, and horn 44 b has top and bottom ends 58 b, 60 b,forward and rearward ends 62 b, 64 b, and inner and outer surfaces 66 b,68 b, Each horn 44 a, 44 b is mounted to the frame 42 between theforward and rearward ends 54, 56 thereof by a mounting assembly 70 a, 70b with the forward ends 62 a, 62 b of the horns 44 a, 44 b beingpositioned at or proximate the forward end 54 of the frame 42.

Each horn 44 a, 44 b is provided with a forward portion 72 a, 72 b whichis provided forward of the mounting assembly 70 a, 70 b, and a rearwardportion 74 a, 74 b which is provided rearward of the mounting assembly70 a, 70 b. The rearward portions 74 a, 74 b are preferably angledoutwardly relative to the forward portions 72 a, 72 b. Alternatively,the horns 44 a, 44 b may be partially curved from the forward ends 62 a,62 b to the rearward ends 64 a, 64 b. The horns 44 a, 44 b may also bepartially curved from the top ends 58 a, 58 b to the bottom ends 60 a,60 b.

The horn control mechanism 46 is configured to move the horns 44 a, 44 bin a plane, typically from a first position in which the inner surfaces66 a, 66 b of the horns 44 a, 44 b are proximate to one another, to asecond position in which inner surfaces 66 a, 66 b of the horns 44 a, 44b are distal from one another.

The air nozzle 48 is provided proximate the forward end 54 of the frame42, while the ram 50 is provided at or proximate to the rearward end 56of the frame 42. The bag carriage assembly 52 is positioned forward ofthe forward end 54 of the frame 42. The bag carriage assembly 52 isoperationally associated with the loader 40 and is configured to sliderearward under the forward end 54 of the frame 42. Bag carriage assembly52 includes the wicket 34 such that the stack 32 of bags 20 a, 20 b, 20c, etc. may be positioned thereon and held in place by the wicket 34.

In operation, and as shown in FIG. 3, a chicken 90 is presented rearwardof the rearward ends 64 a, 64 b of the horns 44 a, 44 b and forward ofthe ram 50, either by manual placement or by automated delivery, such asby a conveyor belt. As shown in FIG. 4, bag carriage assembly 52 raisesto present the top bag 20 a of the stack 32 adjacent to the forward ends62 a, 62 b of the horns 44 a, 44 b. The air nozzle 48 directs a streamof compressed air at the lip 27 of the top sheet 24 of the bag 20 a inorder to slightly raise the top sheet 24 over the bottom sheet 22, thusincreasing the size of the opening 25 of the bag 20 a.

As shown in FIG. 5, bag carriage assembly 52 slides rearward under theforward end 54 of the frame 42, pulling top bag 20 a over and around theforward ends 62 a, 62 b of the horns 44 a, 44 b. With the top bag 20 ahaving been pulled over and around the horns 44 a, 44 b, the horncontrol mechanism 46 causes the horns 44 a, 44 b to move from the firstposition (where the inner surfaces 66 a, 66 b are proximate to oneanother) to the second position (where the inner surfaces 66 a, 66 b aredistal to one another), thereby stretching open the bag 20 a. Ram. 50 isthen operated to stroke forward in order to push the chicken 90 betweenthe inner surfaces 66 a, 66 b of the horns 44 a, 44 b, through theopening 25 of the bag 20 a, and past the forward ends 62 a, 62 b of thehorns 44 a, 44 b, such that the chicken 90 is entirely positioned withinthe bag 20 a. During this process, the bag 20 a tightens around thechicken 90. Ram 50 then reverse strokes to its original, rest positionand waits for another chicken 90 to be delivered.

It is to be understood that, while the loader 40 and bag carriageassembly 52 of the prior art illustrated in FIGS. 3-7 provides for thetop bag 20 a to be pulled over and around the horns 44 a, 44 b and thenfor the horns 44 a, 44 b to move in a planar manner relative to oneanother to stretch open the bag 20 a, that other loader assemblies mayoperate in slightly different manners in order to achieve the samepurpose. More specifically, in other devices, the horns themselves maybe moved into a stationary bag. In other prior art devices, the hornsmay be rotated axially instead of in a plane. In either case, the baghas to be opened enough to go over and around the horns and/or toreceive the horns.

In a conventional poultry loader such as described above, horns 44 a, 44b separate sideways to stretch open top bag 20 a, When the chicken 90 ispushed into the bag 20 a by the ram 50, the top and bottom of thechicken 90 encounter plastic. from the bag 20 a and the sides of thechicken 90 encounter steel from the horns 44 a, 44 b. It is known in theart that consumers prefer to purchase chicken, so chicken baggers have amarketing incentive to bag the chickens in a dry state. However, thereis a fairly high coefficient of friction between the skin of a dry,dressed chicken (or other poultry) and a bag made of polyethylene orsimilar plastic, Accordingly, there is a tendency for the chicken toeither get stuck in the bag 20 a or to tear the bag 20 a as the ram 50pushes it into the bag 20 a, which slows production considerably.Chicken baggers could ameliorate the situation by bagging wet chicken,but consumers would not appreciate it. Similar concerns apply to othermaterial that is bagged in a similar manner.

The present invention addresses these and other deficiencies of theprior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved bag-opening device for an automated loader has horns withupstanding walls and bottom walls. The horns move from a first, adjacentposition in which the bottom walls of the horns completely or almostcompletely overlap to a second, remote position in which the bottomwalls of the horns just barely overlap or do not overlap.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The organization and manner of the structure and operation of theinvention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by reference to the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying non-scale drawings, wherein likereference numerals identify like elements in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a prior art plastic bag used in automatedloading operations;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art stack of the plastic bags ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation schematic view of a prior art loader using a bagopener;

FIG. 4 is an elevation schematic view of the prior art loader of FIG. 3as the top bag is being slightly opened;

FIG. 5 is an elevation schematic view of the prior art loader of FIG. 3with the top hag partially pulled over the horns of the loader;

FIG. 6 is a partial front view of the prior art loader of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a partial top view of the prior art loader of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an elevation schematic view of a loader of a preferredembodiment of the present invention using a bag opener;

FIG. 9 is an elevation schematic view of the loader of FIG. 8 as the topbag is being slightly opened;

FIG. 10 is an elevation schematic view of the loader of FIG. 8 with thetop bag partially pulled over the horns of the loader;

FIG. 11 is a partial front view of the loader of FIG. 8 with the hornsbeing in a first position;

FIG. 12 is a partial front view of the loader of FIG. 8 with the hornsbeing in a second position;

FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the horns of FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 is a drawing of one type of textured steel as used in anembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are drawings of other types of textured steel that canbe used in embodiments of present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms,there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail,specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosureis to be considered an exemplification of the principles of theinvention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that asillustrated and described herein. The embodiments of the presentinvention will be described as part of an automated poultry loader. Thepresent invention can be used on loaders for bagging and/or nettingwhole poultry, cut-up poultry, or whole muscle meat products, on otherapplications in which a material is enclosed in a casing, bag, ornetting, such as sealants, adhesives, and explosives, or for any otherapplication in which horns are used to hold open a casing, bag, ornetting for the insertion of material.

The preferred embodiment of the improved automatic loader 140 includes abag opening device 141 of the present invention is described andillustrated with reference to FIGS. 8-13. The bag-opening device 141includes a pair of horns 144 a, 144 b, a horn control mechanism 146, anda mounting assembly 170 a, 170 b. Other structural and functionalaspects of the automatic loader 140 other than those associated with thebag-opening device 141 are identical to those of the automatic loader 40of the prior art and, therefore, will not be discussed herein again inany detail, except as otherwise noted hereinbelow.

Each horn 144 a, 144 b is typically formed of steel. Each horn 144 a,144 b has an upstanding wail 145 a, 145 b and a bottom wall 147 a, 147b. The horns 144 a, 144 b are mirror images of one another, Thus, theupstanding wall 145 a of the horn 144 a has top and bottom ends 158 a,160 a, forward and rearward ends 162 a, 164 a, and inner and outersurfaces 166 a, 168 a, and the upstanding wall 145 b of the horn 144 bhas top and bottom ends 158 b, 160 b, forward and rearward ends 162 b,164 b, and inner and outer surfaces 166 b, 168 b. The bottom walls 147a, 147 b of the horns 144 a, 144 b extend inwardly from the bottom ends160 a, 160 b, respectively, of the upstanding walls 145 a, 145 b of thehorns 144 a, 144 b. The upstanding walls 145 a, 145 b are preferablyslightly curved or arcuate in cross-section, both from the forward ends162 a, 162 b to the rearward ends 164 a, 164 b, and from the top ends158 a, 158 b to the bottom ends 160 a, 160 b.

In a preferred embodiment, the inner surfaces 166 a, 166 b of theupstanding walls 145 a, 145 b preferably each have air Channels 176 a,176 b formed therein which extend from the forward ends 162 a, 162 b tothe rearward ends 164 a, 164 b. The air channels 176 a, 176 b arepreferably V-shaped in configuration and are provided generallyequidistantly between the top ends 158 a, 158 b and the bottom ends 160a, 160 b, The bottom walls 147 a, 147 b are preferably flat.

Each horn 144 a, 144 b preferably has a forward portion 172 a, 172 b anda rearward portion 174 a, 174 b. The rearward portions 174 a, 174 b arepreferably outwardly angled relative to the forward portions 172 a, 172b, preferably at an angle of approximately ten degrees.

Each horn 144 a, 144 b is mounted to the frame 42 between the forwardand rearward ends 54, 56 thereof by a mounting assembly 170 a, 170 b insuch a manner that the forward ends 162 a, 162 b of the horns 144 a, 144b are positioned at or proximate the forward end 54 of the frame 42.Each mounting assembly 170 a, 170 b includes a post 178 a, 178 b and amounting bracket 180 a, 180 b having a slot 182 a, 182 b formedtherethrough.

The mounting bracket 180 a, preferably extends laterally outwardly fromthe outer surface 168 a of the upstanding wall 154 a of the horn 144 a.The mounting bracket 180 a preferably connects to the horn 144 a at orproximate to the connection of the forward and rearward portions 172 a,174 a of the horn 144 a. The post 178 a extends through the slot 182 aof the mounting bracket 180 a and is then secured to the frame 42.Likewise, the mounting bracket 180 b preferably extends laterallyoutwardly from the outer surface 168 b of the upstanding wall 154 b ofthe horn 144 b. The mounting bracket 180 b preferably connects to thehorn 144 b at or proximate to the connection of the forward and rearwardportions 172 b, 174 b of the horn 144 b. The post 178 b extends throughthe slot 182 b of the mounting bracket 180 b and is then secured to theframe 42. The mounting bracket 180 a mounts the horn 144 a in a slightlyhigher position than the mounting bracket 180 b mounts the horn 144 b.This configuration can be accomplished in any number of ways, includingby attaching the post 178 b slightly lower in the frame 42, or by addingone or more washers (not shown) between the post 178 b and the mountingbracket 180 b.

The horn control mechanism 146 is preferably an air cylinder, servomotor, or similar device, that is operatively associated with at leastone of the horns 144 a, 144 b in order to move or rotate, depending onthe exact configuration desired (as previously discussed, it is known tohave horns move in planar or rotated manner relative to one another),the horns 144 a, 144 b from a first position where the inner surfaces166 a, 166 b of the upstanding walls 145 a, 145 b are proximate to oneanother, to a second position where the inner surfaces 166 a, 166 b ofthe upstanding walls 145 a, 145 b are distal to one another. When theinner surfaces 166 a, 166 b are proximate to one another, the bottomwall 147 a of the horn 144 a is preferably positioned over the bottomwall 147 b of the horn 144 b, as best illustrated in FIG. 11. However,when the inner surfaces 166 a, 166 b are distal from one another, thebottom walls 147 a, 147 b of the horns 144 a, 144 b are no longerprovided in substantially overlapping relationship, but rather arepreferably provided adjacent to one another (but with the bottom wall147 a being slightly higher than the bottom wall 147 b), as bestillustrated in FIG. 12.

In operation, and as shown in FIGS. 8-13, a chicken 90 is presentedrearward of the rearward ends 164 a, 164 b of the horns 144 a, 144 b andforward of the ram 50, either by manual placement or by automateddelivery, such as by a conveyor belt. As shown in FIG. 9, bag carriageassembly 52 raises to present the top bag 20 a of the stack 32 adjacentto the forward ends 162 a, 162 b of the horns 144 a, 144 b, The airnozzle 48 directs a stream of compressed air at the lip 27 of the topsheet 24 of the bag 20 a in order to slightly raise the top sheet 24over the bottom sheet 22, thus increasing the size of the opening 25 ofthe bag 20 a.

As shown in FIG. 10, bag carriage assembly 52 slides rearward under theforward end 54 of the frame 42, pulling top bag 20 a over and around theforward ends 162 a, 162 b of the horns 144 a, 144 b, With the top bag 20a having been pulled over and around the horns 144 a, 144 b, the horncontrol mechanism 146 causes the horns 144 a, 144 b to move from thefirst position (where the inner surfaces 166 a, 166 b are proximate toone another and where the bottom walls 147 a, 147 b are in overlappingposition—FIG. 11) to the second position (where the inner surfaces 166a, 166 b are distal to one another and where the bottom walls 147 a, 147b are in adjacent position—FIG. 12), thereby stretching open the bag 20a. Ram 50 is then operated to stroke forward in order to push thechicken 90 between the inner surfaces 166 a, 166 b of the horns 144 a,144 b, over and on top of the bottom walls 147 a, 147 b, through theopening 25 of the bag 20 a, and past the forward ends 162 a, 162 b ofthe horns 144 a, 144 b, such that the chicken 90 is entirely positionedwithin the bag 20 a. During this process, the bag 20 a tightens aroundthe chicken 90. Ram 50 then reverse strokes to its original, restposition and waits for another chicken 90 to be delivered.

In the poultry loader 140 such as described above, horns 144 a, 144 bseparate (in either a rotational or planar manner) to stretch open thetop bag 20 a. in comparison to the poultry loader 40 of the prior art,when the chicken 90 is pushed into the bag 20 a by the ram 50, only thetop of the chicken 90 may now possibly encounter plastic from the bag 20a. The bottom of the chicken 90 will slide along the bottom walls 147 a,147 b of the horns 144 a, 144 b and the sides of the Chicken 90 willslide along the inner surfaces 166 a, 166 b of the upstanding walls 154a, 154 b of the horns 144 a, 144 b, thereby minimizing the possibilityof the chicken 90 becoming stuck in the bag 20 a or tearing the bag 20a, such that interferences in production are minimized.

The provision of the air channels 176 a, 176 b in the horns 144 a, 144 balso provides for a benefit in comparison to the horns 44 a, 44 b of theprior art. More specifically, as the chicken 90 is moved into the bag 20a, the provision of the air channels 176 a, 176 b allows for a place forthe air in the hag 20 a to escape to when the chicken 90 is insertedtherein, thereby preventing further possible problems when bagging thechicken 90, such as the possibility of the bag 20 a popping as thechicken 90 is bagged.

It is to be understood that the horns 144 a, 144 b of the loader 140could be used in connection with other types of loaders 40 of the priorart, such as those described hereinabove.

It is to be understood that horns 144 a, 144 b are preferably made ofhighly polished stainless steel. For food-loading operations, stainlesssteel is likely required by government regulation. For otherapplications, stainless steel may not be required but is preferred forease of sliding the material in front of ram 50.

In another aspect of the present invention, at least a portion of theinner surfaces 166 a, 166 b of the upstanding walls 145 a, 145 b andbottom walls 147 a, 147 b of horns 144 a, 144 b have dimples ortextures. Preferably, horns 144 a, 144 b are formed entirely of texturedor dimpled stainless steel. With at least the inner surfaces 166 a, 166b of the upstanding walls 145 a, 1.45 b and bottom walls 147 a, 147 bhaving textures, dry chicken will slide even more easily through horns144 a, 144 b. Preferably, the textured stainless steel is diamond-shapedtextured stainless steel, such as HS Item Number R813000041, availablefrom McNichols Co., Tampa, Fla., or type 4. WL, available fromMechanical Metals, Newtown, Pa. A representative diamond-shaped textureis shown schematically in FIG. 14. Other textures can be used as well,such as the ones shown, by way of example and not by way of limitation,in FIGS. 15 and 16.

Preferably, horns 144 a, 144 b are formed with a constant wallthickness, which would provide for the stamping of textures or dimplesinto all of or a portion of the interior surface of the steel.

In another aspect of the invention, at least a portion of the innersurfaces 166 a, 166 b of the upstanding walls 145 a, 145 b and bottomwalls 147 a, 147 b of horns 144 a, 144 b is embedded, overlaid, coatedor otherwise applied with a slippery synthetic substance, meaning onethat has a lower coefficient of friction with the material being loadedthan does smooth stainless steel and the material being loaded, Mostpreferably, the substance is a thermoplastic polymer, preferablypolytetrafluomethylene, most preferably one of the materials sold underthe brand name Teflon® by E. I, du Pont de Nemours and Company or itsaffiliates, Any other slippery substance can be used as well, The use ofa slippery synthetic substance will enhance bagging of dry poultry.Nevertheless, the apparatus can also be used with wet poultry andtherefore will be more useful to users than an apparatus that can onlybe used with one or the other.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown anddescribed, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devisevarious modifications of the present invention without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A horn of a bag-opening device, said horn comprising: an upstandingwall having top and bottom ends, forward and rearward ends, and innerand outer surfaces, at least a portion of the inner surfaces comprisingtextures; and a bottom wall which extends inwardly from the bottom endof the upstanding wall.
 2. The horn as described in claim 1, wherein theupstanding wall is at least partially curved between the top and bottomends.
 3. The horn as described in claim 1, wherein the upstanding wallis at least partially curved between the forward and rearward ends. 4.The horn as described in claim 1, wherein the upstanding wall defines aforward portion and a rearward portion, the forward portion extendingfrom the rearward portion to the forward end, the rearward portionextending from the forward portion to the rearward end, wherein therearward portion is angled relative to the forward portion.
 5. The hornas described in claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the upstandingwall defines a channel which extends from proximate the forward end toproximate the rearward end.
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled) 9.(canceled)
 10. A bag-opening device comprising: a pair of horns, eachsaid horn having an upstanding wall and a bottom wall, said upstandingwall having top and bottom ends, forward and rearward ends, and innerand outer surfaces, said bottom wall extends inwardly from the bottomend of the upstanding wall, the inner surfaces of the upstanding wallsof the pair of horns facing one another; a mounting assembly configuredto mount the pair of horns in position to provide that the innersurfaces of the upstanding walls of the pair of horns face one another,the mounting assembly further being configured to mount one of the pairof horns higher than the other one of the pair of horns; and a horncontrol mechanism which is configured to move the forward end of atleast one of the pair of horns proximate to the forward end of at leastthe other one of the pair of horns, wherein during such movement thebottom wall of one of the pair of horns will be moved into a generallyoverlapping position relative to the bottom wall of the other one of thepair of horns due to one of the pair of horns being mounted higher thanthe other one of the pair of horns.
 11. The bag-opening device asdefined in claim 10, wherein the upstanding wall of each horn is atleast partially curved between the top and bottom ends.
 12. Thebag-opening device as described in claim 10, wherein the upstanding wallof each horn is at least partially curved between the forward andrearward ends.
 13. The bag-opening device as described in claim 10,wherein the upstanding wall of each horn defines a forward portion and arearward portion, the forward portion extending from the rearwardportion to the forward end, the rearward portion extending from theforward portion to the rearward end, wherein the rearward portion isangled relative to the forward portion.
 14. The bag-opening device asdescribed in claim 10, wherein the upstanding wall of each horn definesa forward portion and a rearward portion, the forward portion extendingfrom the rearward portion to the forward end, the rearward portionextending from the forward portion to the rearward end, wherein themounting assembly is secured to each horn proximate to the connection ofthe forward and rearward portions.
 15. The bag-opening device asdescribed in claim 10, wherein the upstanding wall of each horn definesa forward portion and a rearward portion, the forward portion extendingfrom the rearward portion to the forward end, the rearward portionextending from the forward portion to the rearward end, wherein the horncontrol mechanism is operatively associated with the rearward portion ofat least one of the horns.
 16. The bag-opening device as described inclaim 10, wherein the inner surface of at least one of the upstandingwalls defines a channel which extends from proximate the forward end toproximate the rearward end.
 17. The bag-opening device as described inclaim 10, wherein at least a portion of the inner surfaces comprisetextures.
 18. The bag-opening device as described in claim 10, whereinat least a portion of the inner surfaces is coated with a slipperysynthetic substance.
 19. The bag-opening device as described in claim10, wherein the substance comprises a thermoplastic polymer.
 20. Thebag-opening device as described in claim 10, wherein the thermoplasticpolymer comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.
 21. An automated loadercomprising: a frame having forward and rearward ends; a bag carriageassembly provided proximate the forward end of the frame; a ram mountedto the frame proximate to the rearward end thereof; and the bag-openingdevice of claim 10, wherein the mounting assembly is mounted to theframe between the forward and rearward ends thereof in a manner wherethe rearward ends of the pair of horns are provided forward of the ram,and where the forward ends of the pair of horns are configured to beoperatively associated with the bag carriage assembly.
 22. The automatedloader as described in claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the innersurfaces comprise textures.
 23. The automated loader as described inclaim 21, wherein at least a portion of the inner surfaces is coatedwith a slippery synthetic substance.
 24. The automated loader asdescribed in claim 21, wherein the substance comprises a thermoplasticpolymer.
 25. The automated loader as described in claim 21, wherein thethermoplastic polymer comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.
 26. A method ofbagging material, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing anautomated loader having a bag carriage assembly and a pair of horns,wherein the bag carriage assembly is configured to provide a bag intowhich the material is to be inserted, wherein each said horn has anupstanding wall and a bottom wall, said upstanding wall having top andbottom ends, forward and rearward ends, and inner and outer surfaces,said bottom wall extends inwardly from the bottom end of the upstandingwall, the inner surfaces of the upstanding walls of the pair of hornsfacing one another; b) positioning the material to be bagged rearward ofthe rearward ends of the horns; c) opening a bag; d) causing the forwardends of the pair of horns to be positioned within the opening of thebag, wherein the bottom walls of the horns are generally in anoverlapping configuration; e) causing the forward end of at least one ofthe pair of horns to move away from the other one of the pair of hornsin order to stretch the opening of the bag, wherein the bottom walls ofthe horns move to a generally non-overlapping configuration; and f)moving the material to be bagged over the bottom walls of the horns,past the forward ends of the horns, and into the bag.